Statewide Transition Initiatives 2001-02

Several initiatives are being implemented to help New Mexico's students served by IEPs to achieve improved post-school outcomes, due to their high dropout rates, their low participation rates in postsecondary education, and the state's areas of noncompliance cited by OSEP. With two exceptions, these initiatives are being funded this year by the N.M. State Department of Education Special Education Unit, emerging from collaborative development over the past few years by a team representing NMSDE, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (including the Transition into Apprenticeship Project and Project SUCCEED), New Mexico Highlands University, the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque Public Schools, the Center for Entrepreneurship, Parents Reaching Out, the Arc of N.M., the State School to Work Office, Santa Fe's Executive Leadership Council, and the National Transition Alliance. Numerous other stakeholders also contribute major time and efforts to each initiative, including students and parents, state and local agencies, advocacy organizations, employers, educators, and community leaders.